Critical phenomena in rotational spectra of an asymmetric triatomic molecule

The rovibrational dynamics of a highly excited asymmetric triatomic molecule have been investigated using semiclassical and quantum mechanical methods. The rotational energy surface (RES) has been calculated exactly from the rigid-bender model of the molecule. The RES topology has been studied and the bifurcation of its critical points has been found at a certain critical value of the angular momentum. A reorganization of the energy level structure, due to a change of the RES topology, has been revealed.